Luzardo v. State

Third District Court of Appeal
State of Florida
Opinion filed October 1, 2014.
Not final until disposition of timely filed motion for rehearing.
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No. 3D13-1678
Lower Tribunal No. 12-12767
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Luis Enrique Luzardo,
Appellant,
vs.
The State of Florida,
Appellee.
An Appeal from the Circuit Court for Miami-Dade County, Ariana Fajardo,
Judge.
Albert E. Acuña, for appellant.
Pamela Jo Bondi, Attorney General, and Jay E. Silver, Assistant Attorney
General, for appellee.
Before SHEPHERD, C.J., and LAGOA and FERNANDEZ, JJ.
SHEPHERD, C.J.
This is an appeal by Luis Luzardo from a conditional plea of guilt, during
which he expressly reserved for review a dispositive order denying his motion to
dismiss a vehicular homicide charge informed against him.1 Luzardo argued
below and maintains here that (1) his actions did not meet the level of recklessness
required to convict him under the law, and (2) the conscious decision of the driver
of the other vehicle to stop in Luzardo’s lane of traffic was the actual cause of the
accident. After careful study, we conclude that while Luis Lazardo’s operation of
his motor vehicle may have been careless, even negligent, it did not meet the level
of recklessness required to convict him of vehicular homicide, and therefore, direct
his discharge from custody in this case.2 A brief summary of the facts of the case
is necessary to explain our decision.
FACTUAL AND PROCEDURAL HISTORY
The accident in this case occurred on the Tamiami Trail at approximately
9:54 a.m. on Sunday, May 8, 2011, at the entrance to Gator Park, a small airboat
and tourist attraction located on the south side of the Tamiami Trail in Miami-Dade
County. Tamiami Trail is a narrow, straight, two-lane road originally constructed
in the 1920’s, which traverses the Everglades in an east-west direction. Gator Park
1 We have jurisdiction pursuant to Florida Rule of Criminal Procedure
9.140(b)(2)(a)(i), which states that “[a] defendant who pleads guilty or nolo
contendere may expressly reserve the right to appeal a dispositive order of the
lower tribunal, identifying with particularity the point of law being preserved.”
2 This conclusion makes it unnecessary to consider Luzardo’s second ground for
reversal.
2
is located approximately 6.2 miles west of Krome Avenue, the demarcation for our
purposes of the western-most population boundary of Miami-Dade County. The
morning was clear and sunny. The traffic, as captured on a Gator Park surveillance
video camera which serendipitously included the road in its scope, was light.
At the time of the accident, Luis Luzardo was travelling eastbound on
Tamiami Trail in a white Ford Expedition at 83.9 miles per hour. The speed limit
in the area, and on most of Tamiami Trail, is posted at 55 miles per hour. Luzardo
and a friend were returning to Miami after one of their periodic bike rides in the
area. Luzardo was familiar with the road and the location of Gator Park. Michelle
Ward, a tourist from the United Kingdom, was driving in the opposite direction,
heading to Gator Park with three friends to experience an airboat ride. She was
driving a black Chevrolet Impala, which she had leased just the day before. She
was unfamiliar both with the vehicle she was driving and the area in which she was
travelling. She needed to get to Gator Park by 10:00 a.m. to obtain a discounted
price on the airboat tickets.
Ward testified that as she approached Gator Park, she saw an available
parking space in front of the building. She further testified that after deciding it
was safe to do so, she commenced a left turn toward the available space, but
applied her brakes in the middle of the eastbound lane when one of her passengers
told her of Luzardo’s approaching vehicle. When Luzardo realized Ward was not
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going to complete her turn, Luzardo attempted to swerve around Ward’s vehicle,
but his diversionary maneuver was unsuccessful. Luzardo’s Ford Expedition
impacted the rear right passenger door of the black Impala, killing Rachel May
Coulson.
The Florida Highway Patrol initially attributed the accident to Michelle
Ward and charged her non-criminally with violating Luis Luzardo’s right of way
by turning left in front of oncoming traffic under section 316.122 of the Florida
Statutes (2011). Over a year later, however, the State had a change of mind.
Claiming “newly discovered evidence,” it dismissed the non-criminal violation
against Michelle Ward and charged Luzardo with “feloniously operat[ing] a motor
vehicle in a reckless manner, to wit: SPEEDING WITHOUT REGARD FOR THE
SAFETY OF OTHERS” in violation of section 782.071(1) of the Florida Statutes.3,4
Both here and below Luzardo incants, in response, the oft-repeated statement in
these type cases, that excessive speed alone will not support a conviction for
3The State’s Information reads in full as follows:
LUIS ENRIQUE LUZARDO, on or about May 08, 2011, in the
County and State aforesaid, did unlawfully and feloniously operate a
motor vehicle in a reckless manner, to wit: SPEEDING WITHOUT
REGARD FOR SAFETY OF OTHERS, and thereby caused the death
of RACHEL MAY COULSON, in violation of s. 782.071(1), Fla.
Stat., contrary to the form of the Statute in such cases made and
provided, and against the peace and dignity of the State of Florida.
4 According to the last review date on the Florida Highway Patrol Traffic
Homicide Investigation Report, the State actually knew Luzardo’s excessive speed
not later than August 17, 2011, a mere three months after the accident.
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vehicular homicide pursuant to this statute. Although we eschew the box-checking
legal methodology implied by the chant, we agree that the facts of this case do not
rise to the level of recklessness necessary to support the conviction and sentence.
ANALYSIS
The vehicular homicide statute in effect at the time of the accident in this
case reads as follows: “‘Vehicular homicide’ is the killing of a human being, or the
killing of a viable fetus by any injury to the mother, caused by the operation of a
motor vehicle by another in a reckless manner likely to cause the death of, or
great bodily harm to, another. §782.071, Fla. Stat. (2011) (emphasis added).
Vehicular homicide is a lesser included offense of manslaughter, created to cover
the hiatus between manslaughter by culpable negligence and the non-criminal
traffic offense of reckless driving created by section 316.029, Fla. Stat. (1975).
McCreary v. State, 371 So. 2d 1024, 1026 (Fla. 1979). The culpable conduct
necessary to sustain proof of manslaughter under section 782.07 is conduct of “a
gross and flagrant character, evincing reckless disregard of human life, or of the
safety of persons exposed to its dangerous effects, or there is that entire want of
care which would raise the presumption of a conscious indifference to
consequences, or which shows wantonness or recklessness, or a grossly careless
disregard of the safety and welfare of the public, or that reckless indifference to the
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rights of others which is equivalent to an intentional violation of them.” Id.
Luzardo’s conduct in this case does not rise to that level.
Neither carelessness nor ordinary negligence in the operation of a motor
vehicle are sufficient to sustain a conviction for vehicular homicide. By definition,
the crime of vehicular homicide requires proof of the elements of reckless driving.
See State v. Lebron, 954 So. 2d 52 (Fla. 5th DCA 2007); see also D.E. v. State,
904 So. 2d 558 (Fla. 5th DCA 2005); State v. Del Rio, 854 So. 2d 92 (Fla. 2d DCA
2003). Reckless driving, in turn, is defined as driving “… in willful or wanton
disregard for the safety of persons or property….” § 316.192(1)(a), Fla. Stat.
(2012). “Willful” means “intentional, knowing and purposeful” and “wanton”
means “with a conscious and intentional indifference to consequences and with the
knowledge that damage is likely to be done to persons or property.” See W.E.B. v.
State, 553 So. 2d 323 (Fla. 1st DCA 1989). In our view, the facts of this case, as
unfortunate as they are, do not present a prima facie case of reckless driving either.
The determination of a prima facie case of recklessness in a vehicular
homicide case is a fact intensive, ad hoc inquiry. The focus is on the actions of the
defendant and, considering the circumstances, whether it was reasonably
foreseeable that death or great bodily harm could result. D.E. v. State, 904 So. 2d
558, 562 (Fla. 5th DCA 2005). Most of the cases we have found that uphold a
vehicular homicide conviction consist of facts much more egregious than ours.
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See, e.g. Santisteban v. State, 72 So. 3d 187 (Fla. 4th DCA 2011) (finding reckless
driving when defendant drove a gasoline truck, filled with 9,000 gallons of fuel, at
excessive speeds around a curving highway ramp, while weaving around other
drivers); State v. Lebron, 954 So. 2d 52 (Fla. 5th DCA 2007) (finding reckless
driving where defendant, while speeding, attempted to pass a slower vehicle from
the right lane, in the middle of traffic); D.E. v. State, 904 So. 2d 558 (Fla. 5th DCA
2005) (finding sufficient evidence to support reckless driving, when juvenile
knowingly drove the car without adult supervision in violation of the law, far in
excess of the speed limit, around a dangerous curve, near a school, in the dark, and
in an area likely to become congested); Martinez v. State, 692 So. 2d 199 (Fla. 3d
DCA 1997) (finding sufficient evidence to support a conviction for vehicular
homicide where defendant drove 70 mph in a 30-mph zone, on a curving section of
road, while passing another vehicle in a no-passing zone); Lewek v. State, 702 So.
2d 527 (Fla. 4th DCA 1997) (finding evidence was sufficient to establish reckless
driving where defendant drove a car with shallow tire treads, a missing lug nut, and
window tinting that was too dark at 60 mph in a 45-mph zone and failed to reduce
speed for a yellow light, subsequently running a red light); State v. Knight, 622 So.
2d 188 (Fla. 1st DCA 1993) (finding a prima facie case for vehicular homicide
where defendant did not possess a valid driver’s license, was driving 65-70 mph in
a 35-mph residential area, and was operating a damaged vehicle without the
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consent of the owner); Wright v. State, 573 So. 2d 998 (Fla. 1st DCA 1991)
(evidence was sufficient to sustain a vehicular homicide conviction where
defendant had consumed both a full quart and half a six-pack of malt liquor, was
travelling approximately 20 mph over the speed limit, was driving in the oncoming
lane of traffic to pass another vehicle, and did not attempt to slow down or
maneuver to avoid striking the victim); Byrd v. State, 531 So. 2d 1004 (Fla. 5th
DCA 1988) (finding sufficient evidence to sustain a conviction for vehicular
homicide where defendant drove at twice the posted speed limit in heavy traffic,
was warned to slow down, and only tried to stop about six feet from another
stopped vehicle); Savoia v. State, 389 So. 2d 294 (Fla. 3d DCA 1980) (finding
sufficient evidence to support a vehicular homicide conviction where defendant,
driving on a wet road, drove at 90 mph while intoxicated and crashed into a parked
truck without attempting to apply brakes). Additionally, it is important to note that
speeding is not itself a necessary component of vehicular homicide, as evidenced
by multiple cases upholding convictions for vehicular homicide, despite an absence
of speed. See McCreary v. State, 371 So. 2d 1024 (Fla. 1979); Michel v. State,
752 So. 2d 6 (Fla. 5th DCA 2000); State v. Sheppard, 401 So. 2d 944 (Fla. 5th
DCA 1981).
Among the cases that we find most instructive, two of them come from the
Second District Court of Appeal. In one, House v. State, 831 So. 2d 1230 (Fla. 2d
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DCA 2002), the defendant, while driving a stolen car, sped through an intersection
in a residential neighborhood, where trees blocked the drivers’ views in both
directions, at twice the 30-mile-per-hour posted speed limit. The State did not
prove that House stole the car, and the theft was sufficiently attenuated temporally
from the accident that the court did not consider it a factor in its recklessness
decision. The District Court of Appeal found the evidence insufficient to support a
verdict of vehicular homicide, chanting the familiar refrain, “Speed alone will not
support a charge of vehicular homicide.” Id. at 1233. The House court supported
its reasoning by reference to another of its cases, Hamilton v. State, 439 So. 2d 238
(Fla. 2d DCA 1983). In contrast to House, Hamilton actually affirmed a vehicular
homicide verdict arising out of the deaths of two children in a residential area of
Lee County. The facts and circumstances leading to affirmance in Hamilton
included: (1) the day was clear and dry; (2) the defendant was traveling on a level
two-lane roadway more or less in the middle of the road; (3) there were no
obstructions to her view ahead in the form of parked vehicles, foliage or other
objects; (4) she was traveling in an all-residential area, heavily congested with
children; (5) she was familiar with the area and roadway; (6) the road was posted
with both a 30 mile-per-hour speed limit sign and a “SLOW-CHILDREN
PLAYING” sign; (7) she failed to reduce her speed either before or after striking
the children; and (8) the defendant failed to exercise even the slightest care to
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avoid the collision. Id. at 238-39. The case before us is factually closer to House
than to Hamilton.
Finally, State v. Gensler, 929 So. 2d 27 (Fla. 3d DCA 2006), from this court
contains some parallel facts. The facts of Gensler show that at approximately 3:15
a.m. on a dry, clear night, Police Officer Audria Gensler, was traveling northbound
on South Dixie Highway in Miami-Dade County near 220th Street, where the
posted speed limit was forty-five miles per hour. Pedestrians at that location cross
South Dixie Highway without using the designated crosswalk to go to and from a
food market, which was located one block off the Highway. Although many
businesses were closed that evening, the food market was open. Officer Gensler,
dispatched as a back-up officer to a call, proceeded through the intersection where
the traffic light was a flashing yellow signal. According to an accident
reconstruction expert, her speed was approximately ninety miles per hour. She
struck and killed the victim, Robin Ivy, who was approximately four to five feet
into the right traffic lane and just north of the crosswalk. At the time of the
collision, the victim had alcohol and cocaine in her body. This court found that
these facts presented a prima facie case for jury resolution. We said:
Viewed in the light most favorable to the State and based on the fact
that the defendant was traveling at a speed of ninety miles per hour-
way over the posted speed limit of forty-five miles per hour-on a
federal highway, at 3:00 a.m. where the street lights were out, coupled
with the fact that she willfully disregarded a flashing, yellow traffic
signal at the intersection one block from an open convenience store,
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we find that the State established a prima facie case of recklessness on
the part of the defendant-likely to cause the death of, or great bodily
harm to another. McCreary v. State, 371 So. 2d 1024 (Fla.1979); D.E.,
904 So. 2d at 563; Moye v. State, 571 So. 2d 113 (Fla. 4th DCA 1990);
see Michel v. State, 752 So. 2d at 6. As such, the recklessness issue is
within the province of the jury and not subject to a motion to dismiss.
State v. Sheppard, 401 So. 2d 944 (Fla. 5th DCA 1981) (recklessness
and proximate cause under vehicular homicide statute to be resolved
by jury and not on motion to dismiss).
Id. at 30.
The case before us is devoid of aggravating factors analogous to those found
in either Hamilton or Gensler. Unlike Hamilton, the accident in our case did not
occur in a residential area congested with children, there was no “SLOW-
TOURIST ATTRACTION” sign on the road where Luzardo was travelling, and,
unlike the driver in the Hamilton case, Luzardo did attempt to avoid the collision.
And, unlike Gensler, the accident in our case occurred on a rural, dry road, in
broad daylight, where it is not usual for automobiles to be entering or leaving the
highway.
Lastly, the facts of this case are less compelling for a recklessness finding
than any that our electronically assisted research has located that have either
granted a motion to dismiss a vehicular homicide information or the evidence after
trial was determined to be insufficient. The Second District Court of Appeal in
House found that a vehicular homicide case did not lie, despite the fact that the
defendant was speeding in a stolen vehicle. See House, 831 So. 2d at 1232-33. In
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State v. Del Rio, 854 So. 2d 692 (Fla. 2d DCA 2003), the same court found that
defendant’s failure to see a pedestrian pushing her baby stroller approximately six
feet from the curb and forty-seven feet in front of the defendant after making a left
turn at a T-intersection was insufficient to establish a prima facie case of vehicular
homicide. Other cases lead us to the same conclusion. See, e.g. Stracar v. State,
126 So. 3d 379 (Fla. 2d DCA 2013) (finding evidence insufficient to support
conviction for vehicular homicide where defendant drove her vehicle into the
opposing lane of traffic, did not attempt to brake the vehicle or avoid the crash, and
tested positive for multiple substances, including alcohol, marijuana, oxycodone,
and Xanax); Berube v. State, 6 So. 3d 624 (Fla. 5th DCA 2008) (finding defendant
did not operate his vehicle in a reckless manner where defendant stopped in the
middle of the road, then pulled into the intersection and attempted to make a left-
hand turn from the center lane in response to his passengers warning him of an
approaching truck); State v. May, 670 So. 2d 1002 (Fla. 2d DCA 1996) (finding no
reckless driving where defendant, while under the influence of strong medication,
swerved across lanes of traffic and off the road into a yard); Miller v. State, 636
So. 2d 144 (Fla. 1st DCA 1994) (finding evidence insufficient to establish reckless
driving where defendant, though speeding around 15 to 20 mph in excess of the
posted speed limit, had control of his vehicle and slowed as he approached the
intersection); W.E.B. v. State, 553 So. 2d 323 (Fla. 1st DCA 1989) (finding
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evidence insufficient to establish reckless driving where juvenile had consumed
alcohol, was speeding, and drove off of the road from overcorrecting his turn).
The facts of our case – speeding on a straight road in sunny weather with clear
visibility in combination with the attempt to avoid a vehicle which inexplicably
turned and braked in the defendant’s path – are no more compelling than the facts
of these exemplars.
Focusing on the actions of Luzardo, and considering the circumstances, we
hold the State has not proffered sufficient facts from which a jury might conclude
that Luzardo was engaged in reckless conduct “likely to cause the death of, or great
bodily harm to another.” §782.071. We therefore reverse the judgment of
conviction and sentence in this case with directions to discharge the defendant on
the charge informed against him. We decline to rest our decision on the “excessive
speed alone . . .” jingle. If Luzardo had been traveling at a speed of 120 miles per
hour at the time of the accident, our decision might be different. “Judgment by
jingle” is a perilous exercise, but if there must be a jingle in this area of the law, we
would prefer, “Speed alone is not enough, except when it is.” See Rubinger v.
State, 98 So. 3d 659, 662 (Fla. 4th DCA 2012) (reserving for consideration a case
where the speed of the defendant was “grossly excessive”). On the facts of this
case, we reverse the judgment of conviction and sentence for proceedings in
compliance herewith.
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Reversed.
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